Bonner Elementary students are celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month this week while discovering how literacy connects directly to careers in healthcare through the school’s new partnership with CHRISTUS Health.
Throughout the week, CHRISTUS medical professionals are visiting the campus during specialty timeslots to read with students and share their experiences working in the medical field. The visits give students an opportunity to learn about different healthcare careers, the education and training required to enter the profession, and how literacy skills are used every day in their work.
The first two days of the partnership feature bilingual medical professionals reading to students in Spanish, creating a meaningful connection between the school’s literacy focus and Hispanic Heritage Month. Students are also learning how language skills and cultural experiences can be valuable strengths in healthcare and other professional settings.
During each visit, students can ask questions about the professionals’ careers and educational journeys. Discussions also highlight the important role reading plays in healthcare, from learning and communicating to understanding complex information and serving patients.
“This partnership allows our students to see that reading is not just something we do in school; it is a skill that follows us throughout our lives and into our careers,” Principal Steven Ladd said. “This week, in observance of Hispanic Heritage Month, our students are hearing from Hispanic medical professionals, some of whom share cultural roots and life experiences with the families we serve. By learning how these professionals use reading in their work, our students can begin to connect what they are learning today with the opportunities available to them tomorrow.”
The partnership provides Bonner students with a real-world look at how classroom skills can translate into future careers. By bringing healthcare professionals directly into the school, students are seeing firsthand how education, literacy and communication can open doors to a wide range of possibilities.
For more information, contact Jennifer Hines at Jennifer.Hines@TylerISD.org.